This Little Light of Mine

            Jesus told His followers that they were lights that shone before men. People in dark places have always been in need, and the Church – the body of Christ – has been a light through the centuries. Although bad things have been done in the name of Christ, there is a great deal of evidence that Christ’s followers have shined their lights in ways that have changed the world. Paul Copan in his book Is God a Moral Monster? reminds his readers of the following areas of impact: as Christian faith spread after the fall of Rome, the practice of slavery dwindled. Later many Christians advocated its abolition. Christians led reforms to outlaw infanticide in the fourth century. Christian activists condemned and influenced the elimination of gladiatorial games. Christians have built many hospitals and hospices around the world to care for the sick and dying. Christians have always valued higher education, establishing some of the great universities in Europe and America (The Sorbonne, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton) where pastors and missionaries were trained. Christians have produced great works of literature and philosophy – Augustine, Dante, Milton, Aquinas, Pascal, Tolkien, and so many more. Christians have produced some of the world’s greatest works of art, sculpture, and architecture. Christians established modern science, which was rooted in a biblical worldview that assumes an orderly and predictable universe.  Many early scientists were also devout believers, as are some today. Christians composed some of the world’s greatest music: Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, Hayden, and others. Christians have advocated for human rights and have actively shown concern for the poor and for the dignity of life and human worth. These are just some of the examples. In many places… in many other ways (some known and countless unknown to us)… Christ’s followers have been a light on a hill, shining into the world’s dark places.

            A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that the average inner-city church contributed $476,663.24 to the local economy that year. One church – First Baptist Church in Philadelphia – contributed over $6 million (more than ten times its annual budget. How? Community volunteer hours were worth $94,770. The impact on the neighborhood crime rate was worth $64,416. People were helped to get off drugs and alcohol to an extent worth $78,750. Building enhancements contributing to local employment were worth about $60,000. Help given to gain employment was worth $725,000. Efforts to help prevent suicide were worth $58,800, and others to prevent divorce worth $22,500. A school education provided local children was worth $3,489,926.

            While some may want to question such figures (they were produced by a University of Pennsylvania professor who consider himself nonreligious), the fact remains that that church is a light in a place where darkness seeks to assert itself. And that is what Jesus calls His followers to be and to do. In 2001 New York Times editorialist Nicholas Kristof wrote a column (7/30/11) praising the work of many evangelical Christians. While he noted that there was plenty of evidence of hypocrisy in the Church, he continued with these words:

“But in reporting on poverty, disease and oppression, I've seen so many others. Evangelicals are disproportionately likely to donate 10 percent of their incomes to charities, mostly church-related. More important, go to the front lines, at home or abroad, in the battles against hunger, malaria, prison rape, obstetric fistula, human trafficking or genocide, and some of the bravest people you meet are evangelical Christians (or conservative Catholics, similar in many ways) who truly live their faith. I'm not particularly religious myself, but I stand in awe of those I've seen risking their lives in this way—and it sickens me to see that faith mocked at New York cocktail parties.”

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to be like Christ and to be used by Christ to make a difference in the lives of others. That’s what a “light” does. By His grace and in His power that is what we are. In what dark place might God lead you to shine today in such a way that He ends up being glorified?

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) ¹⁴  "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

PRAYER:  Father, your Spirit fills me so that others might see Christ in me. Give me grace to put your glory on display in my life. The light you have caused to shine in me and through me is awesome to behold and to be the carrier of. What grace is given to me that my flesh could bear such glory! Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

Foul Weather Faith

            We were blessed with wonderful weather in downeast Maine for most of the month of August. I have been thinking it was almost too good to be true. Too much good weather is almost “dangerous” to me, because I could easily come to assume that it will always be that way, or even that it should be that way. Not really “dangerous” per se, but tempting to want and expect all the time. In reality it would be foolish to make such an assumption and anyone who lives here knows better. We don’t know what a day or a week or a season may bring weather-wise. We cannot control it.

            On Sunday as I preached from Matthew 5:10-12, I made the statement that persecution is part of the “normal” Christian life. Historically every generation in the history of Christianity has had its share of opposition and trouble because of faith in and love for Jesus. Many of us in the West, however, have lived for years under “fair” conditions of “acceptance” and even some degree of admiration. Things are changing, though, in the atmosphere of politics, education, and everyday social life. This has lead us to feel surprised, dismayed, or fearful when we encounter even mild forms of opposition. We have come to assume that no persecution or hardship should be the norm. But as we read the New Testament we should know better. Jesus’ word about what His followers would face is the word we should heed, and by His grace look for and receive His help in times of trouble when people react negatively to Jesus and our love for Him.

            Christians through the centuries have loved Jesus more than they have loved their lives. What a legacy for us and what an encouragement! While talk of opposition to Jesus and any form of persecution seems a little dramatic in our lives, our times are changing. While I am not eager for what the Bible declares to be normal for those who love Jesus, I am eager for all the promises of Scripture for grace to meet and exceed every need. I am eager for a closer walk with Jesus. I am eager for a deeper love and a stronger faith. I am eager for a passionate dependency on the Lord. And guess what? People who experience opposition for their faith in Jesus tend to have all these. I know this: Jesus will always be not only sufficient, but His presence, power, and grace will exceed the need in every difficulty we may face. He is an awesome Savior, Lord, and Friend.

Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV)  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Timothy 3:10-14 (NIV)  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

 PRAYER:  Father, though in my flesh I have no desire to be on the receiving end of persecution of any kind, I pray that my faith will always be strong even when - especially when - I face opposition. Without you I can do nothing, and it will be only your grace that sustains me. Please sustain your people around the world who are suffering right now because of their love for you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

For Immediate Application

            It’s amazing – though I should not be surprised – how often opportunities to apply God’s Word to my life come up … shortly after doing a Bible study, preaching a sermon, or just reading the Scriptures. In my sermon on Sunday (on Matthew 5:7) I shared with people that I expected that every one of us would encounter an opportunity (maybe more than one) that very day to be merciful. And, lo and behold, I had several. Not every need for mercy is deep and world-changing. Sometimes the situations are small, and even somewhat trivial. Nevertheless, mercy is still called for.

            Joanne and I were out for a walk in the late afternoon. After coming off the shore path we began to walk up West Street. As we crossed the street we didn’t move to the sidewalk immediately and, evidently, slowed down a vehicle behind us that had just come off the pier. As they drove by us the man in the passenger side said in a bit of a sarcastic tone, “There’s a sidewalk, you know!” I said to Joanne, “What did he say?” Immediately I felt the hackles in my neck begin to rise. I briefly felt a strong desire to call back with some sarcastic comment like, “Hey, this is my town, you know!” How foolish, huh? What would have been truly foolish is if I had actually said something. I just kept my head forward and we kept walking. I didn’t like what he said to us. I could have responded with a comeback of some kind that I thought he deserved. But the first thing that came into my mind was the morning message on being merciful, and the Holy Spirit helped me apply it. It was just a very small thing that happened very quickly and was over with in a moment. Unfortunately, words and deeds that began as brief thoughts have shattered lives and destroyed many things throughout history. Thoughts may come, but they need to be taken captive spiritually. We need to push them out and/or move on to other thoughts. Otherwise, they may lead to very unmerciful words and deeds.

            Later in the day we had a neighbor who, once in a while, hosts a party – an extremely loud party – into the late hours of the night… even to one or two a.m.. Sunday night a party was going on and my first thought was, “Great! I hope I don’t have to go over there and complain.” My thoughts were negative and critical. But I decided to leave it alone and just be still. No sense making a big deal about something that hasn’t happened yet. And things ended up being pretty quiet by about 11:00, so I was thankful. But I had to be very intentional about not letting those initial negative and critical thoughts grow. Another opportunity to be merciful.

            There were several other opportunities on Sunday. As I said in my sermon, I believe most us face multiple opportunities for mercy every day. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of God’s grace in us we have the resources to be merciful. And if we cannot (or will not) be merciful in the smaller, less significant things, we will not be merciful in the larger things – in our relationship hurts and in all settings where we have the opportunity to show compassion instead of judgment, and forgiveness instead of retribution.

            Thank God for His great grace and mercy to us: indescribable and wondrous, but nevertheless true and deep. A focus on that will help any one of us be more merciful in our daily interactions with people. May it help you and me in our next one!

Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) ⁴  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Proverbs 11:17 (KJV) ¹⁷  The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Luke 6:36 (NIV) ³⁶  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) ³  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for your mercy in my life. My need is so great. Thank you that your mercy overflows. May it overflow in me so much that people will see and receive your mercy working through me, and may you be glorified in it. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

God's Word is Always Right

            I am grateful to the folks at First Baptist for allowing me the weekend away to be with Joanne and her family to observe a celebration of her mom’s life in Presque Isle. It was very good for us to be with family. I was asked to share some memories of Anna at the service. I began by asking forgiveness for all the things I would leave out: some of which certain people may have thought should be said. As I have shared with many folks at a number of funeral/memorial services, it is impossible to capture a whole life in just a few moments of time. But the service went very well.

            After the reception for family and guests, some of the family were to gather at the home of one of Anna’s granddaughters. It is a first home for her and her husband and they were looking forward to hosting a barbecue that evening. And it was a very nice time… just to relax and to be with one another sharing memories and laughs. Joanne and I almost did not make it, however.

            We had never been to the house before, and so I typed in the address on my phone and planned to let Google Maps navigate for me. Because of this I did not communicate with anyone ahead of time for directions. As I followed Google’s navigation I began to have the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. The directions seemed off, though I certainly was not 100% sure they were. I was under the impression from something I had overheard someone say that the house was in the opposite direction that I was traveling. But I kept on following the directions I was receiving from Google Maps for about 5 miles until I came to the address. Not having seen the house before, we did not know what to look for. I didn’t see any people and I did not recognize any of the cars in the driveway. And, being a man, I did not get out and go in and ask. Instead I drove away back into town. We tried making some phone calls but wherever people were there must have been a poor signal for their cell phones. Finally Joanne got through to someone and started her conversation with, “We’re lost…”, to which I quickly responded in a fairly loud, fairly agitated voice, “We’re not lost! I know where I am. I just don’t know for sure how to get to their house!”

            It turns out that I did have the right address, and I had gone to the right place the first time. This made me feel a little foolish, but I was glad not to spend all afternoon driving around as if I was lost. We had a great time together once we were there.

            As I was thinking about this yesterday, it occurred to me that this situation is a good example of how we come to the Bible at times. We have the right address – the right verse with the right teaching about a particular topic – but in our uncertainty or pride it just doesn’t sound “right” to us. A good example is the Scripture’s teaching about human sexuality. Another is what the Bible says about money. Another is about the nature of God’s judgment upon sinners. Another is the existence of hell. There are many more that we come upon in the verses of the Bible. At first glance we think, “That can’t really mean that. It doesn’t seem to jive with what I’ve heard elsewhere, or with what I think, or with what I wish it would say.” So we go away from what it says and look for God’s blessing and approval of some other idea or behavior. Finally, we have to come back to what the Bible actually says about the matter. It was not “in error” (It is not the “wrong address”.) in the first place. Some people spend all their time looking for God’s truth and God’s will in places other than the “address” that God gives us for it in His Word. But the Scriptures cannot be broken. God’s Word says what it means and means what it says. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours: His wisdom unsearchable.

            Just as I had to “submit” to the possibility/probability that my Google Maps navigator was correct (and find out that it was), I must also submit to wisdom and correctness of God’s Word, even when I am tempted to place my own ideas above what the text is saying. God does not make mistakes. Are you and I subject to His Word, or are we trying to find a way to conclusions that are actually contrary to His Word? May He help us when pride and rebellion seek to assert themselves in us… to yield to His Word.

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) ¹²  There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT) ²³  The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 119:105 (KJV) ¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) ⁵  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

PRAYER:  Father, so I often I want to live by my conclusions, my ways, and my ideas. Forgive me when I ignore your Word. Please always bring me back to the Scriptures, for in them I find your perfect will. Break me of the pride that I use to set myself up above your Word. Forgive me when I go a-wandering away from your Truth. Thank you for your mercy that navigates me back to your Word, before which I can humble myself in your sight and find forgiveness and wholeness. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

God's Covenant Love

            I spent a good part of Monday at an auto dealership having a fairly major repair done on my vehicle. Other than the inconvenience, the repair cost me nothing because the vehicle was under warranty. A warranty is...

“a written guarantee given to the purchaser of a new appliance, automobile, or other item by the manufacturer or dealer, usually specifying that the manufacturer will make any repairs or replace defective parts free of charge for a stated period of time." 

           With a warranty I don’t have to be anxious about having to pay and I have the assurance that what is covered will be taken care of properly by the company that offers it. Of course, when the warranty time period runs out… I will be stuck having to pay in full for any needed repairs. Car companies do not make endless warranties. Software companies do not offer support forever on their products, as users of Windows XP have found out. Not only can human agencies, businesses, and individuals not make products that last forever, they also can not provide assurance for the customer that lasts forever.

            How different it is with God. He has not offered warranties to the world, but what He has offered is His Covenant, and it is so much different: so much better and reliable than any human warranty. God’s covenant love abides forever and it is perfectly expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the communicator and the mediator of the New Covenant love of God. This covenant is the full and complete expression of what God entered with Israel, now offered to all through the blood of Christ. Not only did God make this covenant with all who would trust Jesus Christ by faith: He covered all the costs for it as well. And this covenant has no expiration date. It never expires. It is eternal. And we who are the beneficiaries of God’s eternal covenant love are secure in Him. On the cross Jesus paid the entirety of our obligation to God, so all that we receive from God is free (to us). There are no payments we can make. Jesus has paid. All we can do is enjoy the benefits and love Him.

            Only God’s covenant given to us in Christ is eternal. Every earthly pursuit and all that we may accumulate will wear out, rust, fall apart, or come to an end. It cannot be guaranteed forever. It cannot even be guaranteed tomorrow, for we do not know what a day will bring forth. The earth’s turmoil – earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanos, storms, floods, etc. – overcomes human strength and ingenuity all the time. Human war, crime, and vandalism wreak havoc and destruction on things which should be given an opportunity to last. Only God’s grace is guaranteed. Only God’s covenant is unbreakable and unshakeable. And He offers it to us freely, fully, and forever. What a generous God He is!

Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NIV) ³¹  "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. ³²  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. ³³  "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Matthew 26:28 (NIV) ²⁸  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:13-15 (NIV) ¹³  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! ¹⁵  For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) ³⁸  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for your grace, and the assurance of your covenant love for me in your Son, Jesus. Thank you that this covenant is unbreakable, unshakeable, and eternal. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

The Grace Choice

      It always gets me into trouble. Whenever I hear someone mispronouncing a word or using a wrong version of it… I have this strong urge to correct them. Often I can avoid it in public (unless it is in a debate) because I don’t want to embarrass the person misspeaking. But the urge is still there. And in everyday conversation, I often cannot resist. I have a relative who comes to visit us once in a while. When we are deciding what to do, one possibility that might come up is going to Sand Beach. He insists, however, on referring to it as “Sandy” Beach, even after I’ve pronounced it correctly many times. Rather than correcting him, I’ll reference it more with careful diction in the course of the conversation and emphasize the word sand when I use it. It does no good, however, and then I have to decide whether my annoyance is more important than his incorrectness.

When things like this happen, it’s like I have two voices inside me: one is telling me, “Scott, look, it doesn’t really matter. Just let it go. It’s no big deal. You might embarrass this person, or make them feel bad. Chill out!” The other voice keeps telling me, “You’ll be doing them a favor… actually helping them and keeping others from being confused.” What the second voice says, however, usually has more to do with being right than with helping anybody. After I “listen” for a while to these voices, I decide which to follow. Sometimes it is, “Okay, I won’t say anything” and I move on. At other times it is, “Okay, I won’t say anything.” – but the urge does not go away and I keep wanting to say something. And at other times, still, it is, “I can’t help it, I have to say something.” But when I do, I almost always regret it. I know this all sounds trivial and, for the most part, it is. It’s just an example of how the flesh always wants to take over in everyday situations.

In pastoral ministry I have to speak quite a bit, and I misspeak often. When preaching, I can tell I’ve said something not quite right when people will look funny or murmur a little among themselves. Often I have no idea that I used a wrong word or a wrong form of a word. I may even have to ask. If it is a serious enough breach of speech (such as the opposite of what I really want to say or the wrong name) someone will speak up and correct me. Actually, I am very thankful when people help me out like this. I want to be very sure that people get the right message. Giving a wrong name or a wrong biblical concept needs that kind of correction. For the most part, though, people just tolerate my out-of-place words and Joanne may ask me later in the day, “Did you mean to say…?” or “Did you know you said…?” I am usually clueless… sometimes mortified… but always reminded how the grace afforded to me by others is such a blessing. Knowing the difference between when to speak and when not to speak is a piece of wisdom to be treasured. And grace, I think, is almost always the best choice.

I may be the only person who goes through stuff like this, but deep in my heart I don’t think so. You also may be in need of seeing the “grace choice” in everyday situations and conversations. Are you often challenged by the urge to be right at the risk of hurting another person? If you are like me, you need more grace from the Lord to see and to choose the way of grace with others. May the Lord help us to see this way, and may He guide us by His Spirit to speak to and to interact with others with the gentleness of Christ. AMEN.

                                                                                                          

Colossians 4:6 (NIV) – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

PRAYER:  Father, guide me to not have to worry about being right in matters of no consequence. Let me be gentle and full of grace. Help me to see and to experience such “small” things as important ways to be like Jesus and to please you. Thanks. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott

Walking Sandwich Boards

            Recently we began a free lunch outreach once a week at the church building. Before we got started I put out a general appeal for someone to make us a “sandwich board” that we could use the day of the event each week to get people’s attention. Thanks to Nick Pettee we have a great one that is perfect for our needs.

            The expression “sandwich board” is not about food. Sandwich boards can be carried by a person, with one board in front and one behind, creating a "sandwich" effect. I found the following description on Wikipedia: “The carried version is usually attached to straps acting as suspenders, allowing the person wearing the boards to carry the weight on his or her shoulders and keeping the boards balanced on the wearer. Sandwich boards are most typically deployed in busy pedestrian areas and advertise businesses within easy walking distance. The wearer might also pass out flyers or shout advertising slogans. Sandwich boards were most popular in the 19th century, and have largely been supplanted by billboards, which are more effective in advertising to passers-by who are now likely to be in automobiles, rather than traveling by foot.”

            The first thought that comes to my mind when I think about this kind of sandwich board is (usually a cartoon version of) a man wearing a sign that says, “Repent, the end is near.” This has become a caricature in today’s world, and most people would ignore a real person on the sidewalk with such a sign. Joanne and I used to visit New York City quite a bit when her parents lived in Brooklyn. It was common to encounter street preachers of many types. While there may be a few people who would stop and gather to listen, most would pass by without giving the preacher the time of day. In the case of some preachers that may not have been all that bad. But some good gospel preaching was missed by many. The same kind of thing happens with people wearing sandwich boards.

            Let’s imagine you could wear a sandwich board for a time someplace in our world today. If it were totally up to you, what message would you display on it? To whom would it be directed? What outcomes would you hope for in your decision to wear it?

            If you think about it, we who are followers of Jesus are “walking sandwich boards”. People can “read” us as we live and interact with them day by day. They can read us by the words we say and how we say them. They can read us by the manner in which we conduct our lives. They can read us by how we treat them and how we respond to them. They can read us by the choices we make. They can read us by our posts on Facebook. There are so many ways that we may communicate that Christ is Lord and that He is our all in all. But He must be Lord, and He must be our all in all first on the inside where no one can see. May God be glorified by what others “read” in you and me.

2 Corinthians 3:2-4 (NIV) ²  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. ³  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. ⁴  Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.

2 Corinthians 3:2-4 (MSG) ²  You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. ³  Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it. ⁴  We couldn't be more sure of ourselves in this—that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation.

Hebrews 8:10 (NIV) ¹⁰  This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

PRAYER:  Father, fill me with Your Spirit, and write your love and grace on my heart. Let it be in a kind of writing that cannot be erased, one that will work itself out in my thoughts, words, attitudes, and deeds in such a way that the ongoing work of your grace will be clear and easy to read by all those around me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott